Auto top



F. D. GOULD AUTO TOP Sept. 25, 1928.

Filed Sept. 1a; 1923 ZSheets-Sheet s at. 25, 1928. 1,685,530

F. D. GOULD AUTO TOP Filed Sept. 18, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y FRANK .D. GOULD.

1 911mm 1 J AW;

Patented Sept. 25, 1928.

v UNITED STATES mm: D. coun s 0111mm cmomcm.

Alvaro m.

invention relates to an autotop and especially to a sliding window for effecting a closure of the sides of the top as is exempli lied in my copendihg application 'eht'itled Auto top, filed October 12th, 1921, Serial The object of the present invention is to generally improve andsi'mplify the construction and operation of sliding windows of the character described. I accomplish this object first, by providing a pair of resilient spring arms by which the window is suspended from an overhead rail and whereby a limited vertical movement of the window with relation to the'rail and the body of the car is'permitt ed, secondly, by providihg a pair of shoes which ermit sliding of'the WlIIdOW and which a so serve as gripping members to secure and lock the Window at any point intermediate the ends of the rail; and third, by providing means for actuating the grip ing members as will hereinafter be described. 2 t

One formwhich my invention maya'ssu'me is exemplified in: the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawin s, in which I ig. 1 is a side elevation of an automobile top showing'the windows in extended posiaction; I a .7 e V Fig. 2is an enlarged cross section taken 0nline 2 ,2 ofFig". a I

lligri; is an enlarged side elevati'ori'of one 7 of the windows 5 i Fig, 4 is a cross {seetioii onwline' 1- 4 of F i 3. V V t ig. 5 isia perspective view Ofoneofthe vshoesand;the connected springarm. 7 7

Referring to the drawings in detail, iridicates the body-of ah automdbiie, 2 -the usual form of hinged doors, 3 the hood or forward pqrtion of the car, 4 the Windshield, andBthe toppro r. V v

The to here shdwn consists of apermanent-rigic frame secured to the 'body" and to the Windshield. The shape of the top and the detail construction of the same is" of no particular importance, as it forms no part of the present invention, and'as it may furthermore be changed to suit varying conditions. is p s Formed as aportion of the top is a permanent'back section-6 and a pair ofstationary or permanent side sections 7 in which are mounted stationary windows 8, one" side section and windows being disposed on each side of the car. Also dis osed on each side of the topis a pair of sliding windows 9 aid 10. These windows'are' arranged in pairs, one pair each side, andithese" windows are adapted't'o moved rearwardly into alignment with the'statioiiary' windows 8, or to be extendedforwardl of the stationary windows to partiallydr' Wholly enclose t-lie car.

The mechanism employed for the purpose of? supporting thefwindo'ws and for locking the same" Whether in extended or retracted pos tion forms the subject matter of the present'invent'io'n.

The Windows are supported from overhead tracks or rails such as indicated at 11 and 12, there s ine" oiie pair of rails arranged in each side 0? the top; The top proper is channeled on ea'ch'side as at 13to receive the rails see Figs), an dtiie rails are secured withiii ese channeled portions in any suitable manner'oi' as herefillu sti'a ta; by being'secured toIdngitu%1al eiitended spacing s'tri' s 11 A tracikii s'u'p its the window 9 and the mick 12 the winddwlO. The

mechanism em 'loyed for the pur" oseof siipp'orting'the'windows is identic'a in cachinfore' su ce, 7 p A 7 To Clearly illustrate the mechanism, reference may be made to Fig; 3, in which 11 iii- "dicate's one (if the overhead rails iroiii'wiii'eh stance and the description of one Will theredow atany point intermediate t 'e' extended or retracted position. Twill accomplish'this as follows: I v

Slidably mounted on the rail 11 area pair 'of shoes such as indicated at 14 and 15. Se-

cured tothe shoes are a pair' of fiatfspring arms such asin dlcated at 16 and 1.7; The outer ends of the arms are secured to their lvtwnuii respectiveshoes in any suitable manner and may, in fact, be formed integral therewith if desired. ie opposite or inst; ends" of the spring arms are secured to the upper rail ofthe. window frame by means of screws/or thelike such as indicated at 19. The spring arms form a resilient supportfor the window and as such permits ajlimite'd vertical move ment of the same; JThis vertical movement is of considerable"importanc asit first of: all ermits thelwindow to be lowered and forced into contact witha bot-tom g'uideway' sttc'h'as arocking movement to the lug 21 so thatit may be swung from the full line position shown at 21 to the dotted line position inclicated'at'21, or to the second dotted line position indicated at 21 I The means employed and here illustrated consist of a pair of links 23 and 24 which are pivotally secured at one end to'the lug 21 and mediate point.

at theiropposite ends two bell cranks25 and 26. These bell cranks are pivotally mounted at opposite ends of the top rail 18 of the window frame, and they are in turn connected by means of links 27 and 28 to crank arms 29 and 80 secured on the shafts 32 and 31. The

'outerends of'the shafts 31 and 32 project through the forward face of the window frame asshown in Fig. 4, and they are each provided with a turning knob as indicated at '33. If the knob on the left hand side is turned in the direction of the arrow a, crank arm 29 swings upwardly and so does the'link 27. Bell crank 26 will thus swing in the direction of arrow b and lug'21 will move from the position indicated at21 to the dotted line position indicated at 21?. It will here'engage the under side of the rail 11 and thus force the window frame in a downward direction, this downward movement being permitted due to the resilient connection or spring like arms 16 and 17 which form a conneotion between the window frame and the re- I spective shoes. When the window is thus forced downwardly, it engages the bottom guide 20, and is thus forced against the same 'with such a pressure that a sliding movement of the window is prevented. I

It will also be noted that as the springarms '16 and 17 are bent downwardly, the shoes 14: and 15 will assume a slightly tilted position with relation to the rail 11. This is important as it will cause the shoes to grip the rail and thus positively lock the window'against sliding movement.

As the lug 21 will engage the lower side of the rail at any point intermediate the ends of the rail, it is obvious that the window can be locked in any position desired,whether fully retracted or extended or at any inter- ,It will be seen that athree point lock is obtained, as a resilient rubber shoe 35 is secured to the bottom of the window frame. This shoeis slightly compressed when the ,window is forced downwardly against the bottomguide, and such forms a frictional contact'between the window and the guide which prevents movement of the window at the lower end,the other locking points being workmanship, and it furthermore takes careof any spring or twist in the top or the body. That is, the movement of the lug 21 is such that the vertical movement imparted to the window may be one-quarter of an inch or more. If the spacing between the rails and the bottom guide happens to vary to a slight extent, it would make no material difference as far as the locking arrangement is concerned, as the lock or lug 21 would be equally effective whether the'movement happened tobe one-quarter or one-sixteenth of an inch.

1 it can furthermore be seen that would make no difference if one end of a rail should happen to be a little high and the opposite end a little low, as this would be taken care of by one spring armyielding to a greater extent than the other.

Rattle and vibration as far as the window is concerned is taken care of under all conditions, as a positivelock is secured whether the window is fully extended, retracted or otherwise. 7

i The cost of installation is materially decreased, as accuracy in workmanship may be more or less eliminated, and'as the mechanism employed is exceedingly simple and easy to install. I

By referring to Figs. 3 and 4., it will be noted that the front face of a window frame is grooved or channeled as indicated at A5 to receive the various links, bell cranks, etc., whereby the lock is operated. A front plate 46 covers the channel, and the links, bell cranks, etc. are thus hidden from view. The only parts of the mechanism which appear are the turning knobs 33, as they are secured on the outer ends of the shafts which project through the plate 46.

By referring to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the upper ends of the shoes are hook shape as indicated at 4:7. This is important as the hooks grip the upper portion of the rail, while the fiat portions indicated at 48 grip the lower side of the rail when the shafts are tilted. 1 i

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with a horizontally sliding closure for vehicles, of an overhead track,- hangers having hooks to fit slidably over the track, and connecting means between the hangers and the closure, whereby when the closure is depressed the hooks are caused to tilt and'grip the track.

2. The combination with a horizontally sliding closure for vehicles, of an overhead track, hangers slidably mounted on the track, resilient connecting means between the hangers and closure, whereby the latter is normally held in slight-1y raised position, to permit free sliding movement, and means to depress the closure, whereby to cause the hangers to tilt and grip the tracks.

3. In a device of the character described, an overhead rail, a window, a pair of shoes slidably mounted on the rail and from which the window is suspended, and means for imparting a tilting movement to the shoes at any point intermediate the ends of the rail to cause the shoes to grip the rail and lock the window against sliding movement.

4. In a vehicle top of the character described, an overhead track, a lower guideway, a horizontally movable sash disposed between the track and guideway, slidable hangers arranged on the track, resilient means connecting the hangers with the sash in a. manner to maintain the sash slightly raised, and means for depressing the sash so as to bring it into more intimate contact with the lower guideway, said resilient means acting when the sash is depressed to effect a. tiling and gripping engagement between the hangers and the track. I

5. In a vehicle top of the character described, an overhead track, a. lower guideway, a sliding sash disposed between the track and guideway, hangers slidably mounted on the track, resilient means connecting the sash to said hangers in a manner to maintain the sash in slightly raised position, so as-to permit free sliding movement thereof, and movable means arranged between the sash and the track for depressing the sash, to tilt the hangers and cause them to rip the tracks.

6. In an auto top of the character described, an overhead rail, a pair of shoes slidably mounted thereon, a pair of spring arms fastened one to each shoe, a window disposed below the rail and fastened to the opposite ends of said spring arms, said spring arms forming a resilient support between the shoes and the window and permitting a limited vertical movement of the window with relation to the rail, and means \for exerting a downward pressure on the spring arms to cause the same to tilt the shoes which will thereby grip the rail and lock the window against sliding movement on the rail.

7. In an auto top of the character described, an overhead rail, a. pair of shoes slidably mounted thereon, a pear of spring arms fastened one to each shoe, :1 window disposed below the rail and fastened to theopposite ends of said spring arms, said spring arms forming a resilient support between the shoes and the window and permitting a limited vertical movement of the window with relation to the rail, a lug pivotally mounted on the window and engageablewith the lower side of the rail, and means for imparting a turning movement thereto to force the window downwardly so as to bend the spring arms and thereby tilt the shoes with relation to the rail, said tilting movement of the shoes causing the shoes to grip the rail and to lock the window against slidin movement.

FRAfiK D. GOULD 

